Clothes-line holder.



T. H. SEIFERT. CLOTHES LINE HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1914.

1 1 37,796. Patented ,May 4, 1915.

IIIIHI s.

IEHIMH THE NORRIS PETERS CO-. PHOTD-LITHO-, WASHINGTDN. D. C.

THEODORE HENRY SEIFEET, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

oLo'rnns-Lmn HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4:, 1915.

Application filed March 11, 1914. Serial No. 823,932.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE HENRY Snirnn'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clothes-Line Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following; description of my combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a holder constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof illustrating the holder clamping orengaging a line. Fig. 3 is a plan View likewise showing the holder clamping or engaging a line. Fig. 4: is a central vertical section taken along line 4l4l of Fig. 1, to illustrate elements of the holder in passive or inoperative positions. Fig. 5 is a similar section illustrating an element of my invention just subsequent to being tripped in the process of releasing the line.

The present invention resides in the pro vision of a base provided with a corrugated clamping surface which cooperates with a similarly formed clamping surface formed on a jaw pivoted to said base. The clamping surface of the jaw aforesaid is swung into cooperative relation to the clamping surface of the base through the medium of a dog and ratchet and is retained in such position thereby.

Reference being had more partlcularly to the drawings 10 indicates a base adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to a stationary support. This base is provided with the protruding clamping surface 11 wh1ch is formed with vertical corrugations 12. Extending horizontally from the base is a plurality of cars 13 between which is pivoted the jaw 14, said ears having cutouts 13 in the upper edges to receive a line or rope as hereinafter described. The upper termlnal of this jaw 11 is formed with the vertical corrugations 15 (Fig. 3) said corrugations being in a plane with corrugations 12 of the base and staggered with respect thereto. As

the jaw 14 is pivotally mounted it can articulate with the clamping surface 11 of the base to grip and release the line.

At the lower end of the jaws 14 and upon the inner surface thereof is a rack or ratchet 1 16 through the medium of which the jaw is retained in operative co-relation with the clampingsurface 11 of the base 10.

A yoke 17 is pivoted to the lower end of the base 10 and is provided with the extensions 18, one on each side thereof, whereby said yoke is oscillated about its pivotal point.

A dog 20 is centrally pivoted to the yoke between the ears 21 thereof and is formed at its base with a stop or shoulder 22 which bears against the body of the yoke and limits the movement of the dog when the same is being released from the rack or ratchet 16.

In use the line 23 is placed in the cutouts 13 between the clamping surfaces of the base 10 and the jaw 14: as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. One or the other of the extensions 18 of the yoke 17 is submitted to a pull, which causes said yoke to move about its pivotal point thereby moving the dog 20 into engagement with rack or ratchet 17. This pull may be created in a number of ways, but is preferably exerted by passing the line to the rear of one of the extensions 18 and 17 to swivel outwardly and upwardly.

As the yoke 17 moves outwardly and upwardly under the influence of the pull on rope 23 from the position in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the dog 20 resting directly upon and supported by said yoke travels up the rack or ratchet 16 until. it assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 2 at which time the upper end of the jaw 14 has moved inwardly sufficiently to grip the line and secure it between the clamping surface of said jaw and the base. When in this position it will be found that the yoke 17 and the dog 20; have formed what is known as a toggle lock, with the point of the dog firmly lodged in one of the teeth of the rack or ratchet as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. r

The operation of putting up a washline when these clamps are employed is simplicity itself. The

or skein of line in one hand, with the free end of the line in the other and vplaces the rope in the space 13 of the clamp on the first clothes post; at the same time giving an outward manual twitch to the extension 18 to clamp the end of the rope. The line is now stretched to the next clamp, the rope elevated and dropped into the open space 13 whereupon a quick spasmodic downward and outward twitch against the extension 18 is again given to the line, which sets the toggle lock and causes the jaw let to move inwardly to pinch the line in a manner clearly seen in Fig. 2. The motion of the person putting. up the line is almost automatic and is; performed while walking past that particular clothes post, on to thenext post,'and so on. When it is desired to take down ,'-the wash line, the individual performing the operation, gives a downward twitch with the fingers to the extension 18 of the clamp on the endmost clothes post, removes the line and begins the reeling up thereof on the elbow of one arm or over a reel, as thecase may be. As the next post is approached, a swing is given to the line, much as children swing a rope in the game of skipping the rope. This swing is imparted while walking along and the swinging line is caused to strike the extension 18 On its outer edge thereof, re-

leasing the same and loosening the line at This is proceeded with until the line is all reeled up.

,It will thus be observed that this device possesses means incorporated therewith, whereby the rope which is to be clamped forms the media whereby the clamping and releasing operations are performed. It may be added that one of these holders is intended to be attached to every clothes line post, in a yard, to which the clothesline is intended to be led, and its especial object is to eliminate the annoyance and extra labor causedby the dropping to the ground of an entire line of wash, which in most instances is supported by a number of said posts, due to the breakage of the line between adjacent posts. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination with a base of a jaw pivoted thereto, clamping surfaces on said jaw and base, a yoke pivoted to said base, means pivoted to said yoke adapted to engage said jaw, said yoke and said means together forming a toggle lock, andmanually V actuated means whereby said toggle lock may be set or released. 2. The combination. with a base of a jaw pivoted thereto, there being clamping sur-l, faces on said base and jaw arranged for the reception of a line therebetween, a yoke pivoted to said base, lateral extensions on said yoke adapted to engage said line, ratchet teeth on said jaw, and adog pivoted to said yoke adapted'to engage said teeth, said dog and yoke being adapted to form a toggle lock between said base and said jaw, and means on said yoke, which may be actuated to clamp or release said line.

3. In combination, a base, a pair of ears projecting therefrom having cutouts in their upper edges adapted for the reception of a line or the like, a clamping jaw between said ears and pivotally connected thereto,

and externally operated means, including toggle members, adapted to engage. said jaw and actuate the same into engagement with said line or disengagement therefrom. f

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the witnesses.

MARTIN G. SELFER WI LIAM O. STARK.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Weshington,.D.G.,

presence of two subscribing 

